Folding stake or upright for trucks, cars, and the like



Dec. 3, 1929. w. R. MccoRD FOLDING STAKE OR UPRIGHT FOR TRUCKS, CARS, AND THE LIKE lfiled Nov. 8. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 3 1929. 1,738,109

FOLDING STAKE OR UPRIGHT FOR TRUCKS, GARS, AND THE LIKE Eile@ Nov. 8. 192e W. R. MCCORD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 f 5 gadpp' .JH-2J' f ff 5 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 STATES 'WASHINGTON R. MCCORD, 0F BROOKFIEL'D, ILLNUIS FOLDING STAKE 0R ULPRGHI FOR TRUCKS, CARS, AND THE LIKE Application tiled November 8, 1928.

lhe invention relates to folding stakes or uprights, for trucks, cars and the like, and is particularly designi-id for use in connection with sinall platform trucks such as l5 are exte uvely used in inail-order houses,

railroad ations, and the like.

llt is highly desirable to equip trucks of this character with folding stakes or uprights not only that they inay be utilized to l@ carry various types of loads, but also that they may be 'transported and stored in stacks which occupy a relatively sniall area when the trucks are not in use.

lt is one of the objects of the invention l5 to provide a structure which can easily be aiiixed to each of the four corners of the truck and which will materially strengthen the sill joints thereof.

A further object of the invention is to equip the trucks with folding or swinging stakes, and strengthening and supporting elenients which niay be readily and inexpen sivcly manufactured and which are so constructcd that siniilar parts inay be inter- 25 changed one with the other, that is, left for right, or right for left. This interchangeability of parts is of prilne importance in that fewer parts are necessary to be kept in stock for replacements and repairs, and because the parts may be readily and quickly assembled.

The invention also has for one of its objects the aiiziing of the holding stake structure to the inner faces of the longitudinal sills of the truck. This feature is also iin- ]jiortant `in that it leaves the outer walls of the truck clear and unobstructed and thereby reduces the possibility of damage and breakage.

lt is appa-rent that by reason of the par* ticular construction embodied the stake pockets are actually part of the frame of the truck and for that reason, also, the possibility oil darnage and breakage is lessened.

dii Another object of the invention is to eo1nbine with the structure a base plate adapted to receive the cross connecting rods which are -erployed to jon one truck with another. ily combination, the added strength given by 'the structure to the sill joints of the senin No. 317,964.

truck is utilized in combination with the connecting means to the nent truck.

The :invention also provides a construction wherein any of the stakes inay be first swung into place. This results in a saving of tiine in folding and swinging the stakes into their horizontal positions, and also a saving in space.

The invention will be explained and inore readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes and inedifcations of which the invention is susceptible may be inade without departing troni the spirit of the appended claiins forining a part hereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the truck sills showing the stakes in their folded position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of one end of the truck showing in inore detail the features of the invention.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the end of the truck shown in Figure 2 illustrating the stakes folded into their horizontal positions, and also illustrating by dotted lines their vertical positions.

Figure l is horizontal sectional view taken on the line fl-l of Figure 5. 80

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure t.

Figure 6 is a side view, partly in4 section and partly in elevation, of the inner end portion of the structure.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the various elements of the invention showing thein in a disassociated relation with each other, and 90 Figure@ is a plan view of the end portions of two adjoining trucks showing their inanner of connection.

The structure of the invention comprises a truck body having longitudinal sills l0 e5 and ll and transverse sills l2 anl li-l. The ends of the longitudinal sills l0 and ll ei:- tend beyond the transverse lsills l2 and 13, forining extensions la, l5, 1G and l?. The longitudinal sills 1G and ll are joined to the viso transverse sills 12 and 13 by any suitable means. i

In explaining the invention a description of the structure with reference to the longitudinal sill extension'14, will be Inade, it being understood, however, that the structure of the invention can be affixed to any one or niore of the longitudinal sill extensions 14, 15, 16 and 17, as desired and as will hereinafter be more 'fully explained.

An irregularly shaped metallic plate, generally designated 18, is litted against the outer and end portions of the longitudinal sill extension 14. The side wall portion 19 of' the plate covers the entire depth of the longitudinal sill 10, and extends inwardly a suitable distance.

The wall portion 2O ofthe irregularly shaped plate 18 fits against the end oit the extension 14, and extends inwardly, in the direction of the longitudinal sill extension 15, a short distance beyond the inner face of the extension 14.

Inner wallportion 21, integral with and a partv of the irregularly shaped metallic plate 18, extends inwardly at right angles to the wall portion 20, and is parallel to the side wall portion 19. A iiange 22 is bent inwardly from the wall portion 21 in the direction of the longitudinal extension 15, and rests against the transverse sill 12.

Because of the fact that the wall portion 20 ofthe irregularly shaped plate 18, extends inwardly beyond the inner face of the extension 14, it is apparent that an air space is left between the inner face of the longitudinal sill extension 14, and the wall portion 21.

A Z plate 23, having wall portion 24, 25 and 26, lits within the said air space, and forms a protection for the inner face of the extension 14. The main wall portion 24 of the plate 23 covers the entire inner face of the extensionl 14.

The wall portion 25 Vof the Z plate 23 is at right angles to the main wall portion 24, and rests against the transverse sill 12. 'The extremity of the wall or flange 25 abuts against the wall 21 of the irregularly shaped plate 18.

The other wall or flange 26 is also at right angles to the main wall portion 24 ot the Z plate 23, but is at the other end thereof and projects from the wall 24 in a direction opposite to that of. the wall or liange 25. A rabbet eut into the inner end portion of the extension 14, receives the wall or flange 26.

The air space between the wall 24 of the Z plate 23, and the wall 21 of the irregularly shapedouter plate 18 is the stake pocket 27 and is the receptacle for the stake, which will hereinafter be described.

' A ledge 28 integral with the wall 21 vprojects from the wall 21, in the direction ofthe extension 15. This ledge is orined by cutting vertical slits in the wall 21, of the irregularly shaped plate 18 and bending downward the portion of the wall between the two slits, forming the ledge 28. It is obvious that by the formation of the ledge 28, an opening or aperture 29 is left in the upper portion of the wall 21.

A similar ledge 30 is formed below the ledge 28 in a corresponding manner. Ver tical slits are cut in the lower portion of the wall 21, and the ledge 30 is lorined by bending upward the portion of the wall lying between the two slits. An opening or aperture 31, corresponding to the opening or aperture 29, is thereby formed in the lower portion of the wall 21 oic the plate 18.

An irregularly shaped top plate, generally designated 32, fornis a cover plate for the extension 14, and the plates 18 and 23. The edge 33 of the top plate 32 is flush with the upper edge et the wall 19 ot the plate 18. The edge 34 of the top plate is flush with the upper edge ot the wall 2O otl the plate 18.

The greater part of the edge 35 of the top plate is even with the upper edge oi the wall 21 oi the plate 18, but continues to run parallel to the longitudinal sill 10, until it reaches the inner face of the transverse sill 12, where it converges angularly and inwardly to the inner face of the longitudinal sill 10, and then resumes its direction parallel to the edge 33, along the inner tace ol the sill. The edge 36 is at right angles to the longitudinal sill, and parallel to the edge 3 The top plate 32, has an aperture 3T cut into the edge 35, which registers with the aperture 29 in the wall 21 olf the plate 18, and extends inwardly to the inner lace of the extension 14.

A base plate 38 is provided which forms the lower portion of the structure, and which closes the lower end of the stake pocket 2?. The outer and end edges of the base plate 38 are flush with the lower edges of the walls 19 and 20, respectively, of the plate 18. The inner end portion of the plate 38 projects inwardly beyond the wall 21 of the plate 18, toward the sill extension 15 and contains a circular hole 39 to receive the connecting rod 40 or other connecting ineans to the next truck.

A stake 41, which lits into the stake pocket 27, is provided with the transverse pivot ei:- tensions 42 and 43 at one end thereof and is constructed in any suitable nianner known lo the art. The transverse pivot` extensions 42 and 43 project beyond each side of the stake 41.

The plates 18, 23, 32, and 38 are ailixed to the extension 14 by any suitable ineans, but preferably in such a inanner that the outer faces will be left clear and unobstructed, in order to reduce the possibility of damage and breakage. Y

The stake 41, when in its vertical position within the stake pocket 2.7 rests upon the base plate 38 and extends upwardly through the aperture 37 in the top plate. When iny this position it is capable of resistingthrusts, whether they be inwardly or outwardly directed against the stake. The pivot entensions 42 and 43 oi' the stake 41, when in the aforesaid position, rest upon the base plate Btl and h ave their ads, which iii-,reject trans versely beyond the edges oft the stake, in contact with and abutting the end walls ot the stake pocket 27.

To 'told or lower the stake 41 into its horizoutal position, the stalre is lifted vertically within the stake poche-t 2i" until the pivot extensions 42 and 43 of the stake are `even with or above the ledge 28. The stake can then be lowered transversely oil the truck, the said stake pivoting),` on the transverse oie tensions 42 and 43 ot the stake, and passing' through the aperture 29 in the wall 2l ot `plate 18. The outer extremity oi' the stalre when in its folded or lowered position, rests upon a ledge on the extension similar to the ledge 28 oi the plate 18.

'lhe top plate 32, secured to the extension 14 by suitable means, ijirevents the accidental removal ot the stake 41 from the stake pocket 27. lt is obvious that as the stalle 41 is lifted vertically within the stake poclret 27, the transversely projecting pivot extensions 42 and 43 oiI the stake 41, strike the portion ol the top plate 32 which lies adjacent the aperture 37, and thus prevent the stake from slipping out oil the stake pocketln order to place a stake, the top plate 32 is removed, and a new stake is inserted within the pocket.

ln order to raise the stake troni its lowered or horizontal position into its vertical or operative position, the stake is lifted into a vertical position within the stake pocket 27 pivoting on the 'transverse pivot extensions 42 and 43 ot the stake 41, and is then dropped to the base ot the stake pocket, where it is ready to he used in supporting the truck load.

lt is to be noted that the various plates and the stake may be used on any of the longitudinal sill extensions 14, 15, 16, or 17. ln order to use the plate 18 on extension 15, all that is necessary is to invert the plate, and it is ready to be used on the said extension. In other worcs, by simply turning' the plate 18 upside down, the plate is adapted lor use on the extension 15.

lt can readily he seen that by an inversion oil the plates 3, 32, and 3S, they too, are adapted for use on extension 15. ln this simple manner any of the plates may he used on any ot' the extensions.

rlhis interchangeability ol parts results in economy oi? operation, ior it means that fewer parts are necessary to be lept in stock tor replacements and repairs, and that when assernd blingl the parts and constructing the truck usingI the invention the liability ot error is lessened to a very great degree.

lt is also to be observed that the str eture 28, or the ledge ot the inverted plato, as .ie oase may he, rests upon and is i pov ted by the ifolded or lowered stalre. I'lfhese features ot benne` able to told or lower either stake at will, and to siuaerpose either stalre over the other results in a great saving oit time in 'tolding' or loweriu ev the stakes into their horizon tal position, and it also results ina savingl ot space.

ily combining with the structlue a means to ellis: the cross connecting' rods 40 which are employed to join one truck with another, the added strength given by the structure to the sill oiuts et' the truck is utilized in combination with the connecting means to the nent truck.

l-lavinggx described the invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a stake pocket for trucks, cars and the lilre having' a longitudinally extending; side sill, an inzfertible irregular plate attached to the end oi said side sill and consisting; ot a flange attached to the outer portion of said sill, a 'transversely extending' portion across the end of said sill and an inwardly heut portion parallel to said first mentioned flange and spaced trom said sill, said inwardly bent por- `ion having` an oilset flange, and horizontal ledges struck out from said inwardly bent portion to provide a support for a. stake in either ol' the two positions oi' the invertible irregular plate.

2. ln a toldinp,1 stake and support .tor trucks, cars, and the like, the combination ot' longitudinal and transverse sills, said longitudinal sills orten-ding` beyond said transverse sills, an irregularly shaped metallic plate encasing` one of said longitudinal. sill extensions, said plate with said extension forming` a stehe pocket, a stake arranged to slide vertically within the said stale pocket, a top plate coveriup; the said longitudinal extension, said top plate preventing the removal ot the stale from the stalte pocket, a base plate, a Z plat within said stake pocket adjacent the longitudinal sill extension, a bent portion or ledge formed in said irregularly shaped metallic plate, said stake being,- adapted to Saville` transversely ot the longitudinal sills and rest on said ledge, another bent portion or ledsre formed in said irregularly shaped metallic plate adapted to support a stake in lowered position in the event ot inversion ot said irregularly shaped metallic plate.

Ell)

3. In a folding stake and support for trucks, cars, and the like, the combination of longitudinal and transverse sills, said longitudinal sills extending beyond said transverse sills, an irregularly shaped metallic plate encasing one of said longitudinal sill eX- tensions, said plate with said extension, forming a stake pocket, a stake arranged to slide vertically within the said stake pocket, a top plate covering the said longitudinal eXtension, said top plate preventing the removal of the stake from the stake pocket, a base plate, a Z plate within said stake pocket adjacent the longitudinal sill extension, a bent portion vor ledge formed in said irregularly shaped metallic plate, said stake being adapted to swing transversely of the longitudinal sills and rest on said ledge, another bent portion or ledge formed in said irregularly shaped metallic plate adapted to support a stake in lowered position in the event of inversion of said irregularly shaped metallic plate, the last mentioned ledge being beneath the first mentioned ledge in order that when said irregularly shaped metallic plate is inverted said last mentioned ledge may act as a support for said stake.

, In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this iifth day of November A. D.,

WASHINGTON R. MCCORD. 

